FR Doc E8-18690[Federal Register: August 13, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 157)]
[Notices]
[Page 47230-47231]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au08-130]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Kingman Museum, Incorporated,
Battle Creek, MI
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of the
Kingman Museum, Incorporated, Battle Creek, MI. The human remains were
removed from Muskegon County, MI.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3).
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Kingman
Museum, Incorporated professional staff in consultation with
representatives from the Michigan Anishnaabek Cultural Preservation and
Repatriation Alliance (MACPRA), a non-federally recognized Indian
group. The Kingman Museum, Incorporated professional staff also
consulted with representatives of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and
[[Page 47231]]
Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians,
Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon
Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; and Saginaw Chippewa
Indian Tribe of Michigan.
In 1918, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals
were removed from a sand mound near Muskegon, Muskegon County, MI, by
J. Howard Baker, Mrs. Blanche McFarland, and Lewis Kelly. The human
remains were donated to the Battle Creek Public Schools prior to 1997.
In 2006, Battle Creek Public Schools transferred the human remains to
the newly formed Kingman Museum, Incorporated, a 501(c)3 charitable
organization. No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
A handwritten piece of paper found with the human remains gives
information on the excavation. The mound measured 14 inches by 25
inches and stood about 3 feet above ground level. The human remains
were found in a sitting position. While as many as eight individuals
may have originally been in the mound, only four individuals were
collected. Funerary objects may also have been collected, but were not
given to the museum.
The human remains were documented by Janet Gardner and Robert
Anemone, Department of Anthropology, Western Michigan University. The
documentation concluded that the physical characteristics of the human
remains and the details of the burial context are indicative of a
Native American population. However, a relationship of shared group
identity between the human remains and a present-day Indian Tribe could
not be reasonably determined.
Officials of Kingman Museum, Incorporated have determined that,
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above
represent the physical remains of four individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of Kingman Museum, Incorporated also have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), a relationship of
shared group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native
American human remains and any present-day Indian Tribe.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review
Committee (Review Committee) is responsible for recommending specific
actions for disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains. In
2008, Kingman Museum, Incorporated requested that the Review Committee
recommend disposition of the four culturally unidentifiable individuals
to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon
Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; and Saginaw Chippewa
Indian Tribe of Michigan, as the aboriginal occupants of the lands
encompassing Muskegon, Muskegon County.
The Review Committee considered the request at its May 15-16, 2008
meeting and recommended disposition of the human remains to the Little
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon Band of
Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; and Saginaw Chippewa Indian
Tribe of Michigan. A June 6, 2008, letter on behalf of the Secretary of
the Interior from the Designated Federal Official, transmitted the
authorization for the museum to effect disposition of the human remains
of the culturally unidentifiable individuals to the three Indians
tribes listed above contingent on the publication of a Notice of
Inventory Completion in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills that
requirement.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Katie
Nelson, Collection Manager, Kingman Museum, Incorporated, 175 Limit
Street, Battle Creek, MI 49037, telephone (269) 965-5117, fax (269)
965-3330, before September 12, 2008. Disposition of the human remains
to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon
Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; and Saginaw Chippewa
Indian Tribe of Michigan may proceed after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
Kingman Museum, Incorporated is responsible for notifying the Grand
Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little River
Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
Indians, Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and
Indiana; and Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan that this notice
has been published.
Dated: July 22, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-18690 Filed 8-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S